bates



(No Model.)

APPARATUS FOR ELEVATING AND HOLDING SPOOLS 0F WIRE.

No; 290,300. A Patented Dec. 18, 1883.

WITNESSES: INVENTOHS:

NIT'ED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LEWIS WILLIAMS AND EDWARD M. BATES, OF J OHNSTOWN PA.

APPARATUS FOR ELEVATING AND HOLDING SPOOLS OF WIRE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 290,300, dated December 18, 1883. Application filed August 24, 1883. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, LEwIs WILLIAMS and EDWARD M. BATES, citizens of the United States. residing in J ohnstown, in the county of Oambria and State of Pennsylvania, have invented an Improved Apparatus for Elevating and Holding Spools of Wire, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention is connected with the process of galvanizing wire, and effects convenient manipulation and arrangement of the spools from which the wire is drawn into and through the metal bathyand it consists of a strong upright metallic rack or frame, in which. the axles of the spools are supported and revolve at different heights, and a hydraulic lift or elevator to place the spools in the position desired. This lift is necessary because the metallic spools, when loaded with wire, are so heavy that two men cannot readily lift them and place them on the rack at such elevation as may be desired.

' In the accompanying drawings, Figure 2 is a plan of our improved apparatus, and Fig. l is a section through line w m of Fig. 2.

In Fig. 1, f is one member of the upright semicircular open rack or frame, said uprights being provided with bearings g, supporting the spools by their axles, and in which they revolve.

stand in and are fastened to the base or foundation plate 71-, which may be at the floor-line, and should be supported by masonry. At the top the members f of the frame are secured to plate a, connecting and holding the frame, which should be substantially constructed throughout of metal. 7

In Fig. 2 we have shown a top view of a frame arranged to carry four vertical rows of spools; but it may be constructed of greater or less width, as may be required. In front of the frame is the lifting apparatus.

is is a hydraulic cylinder, and a its piston.

t is a cap closing the lower end of cylinder 7c.

s is a pipe from pump and to exhaust. 0 and i are details of a stuffing-box.

b is ahub fastened to the piston a, to which hub is secured the curved arm 0, which carries the stands d.

e c are spools in position on the frame, and

The uprights comprising this framec is a spool on the stand to be lifted into position on the frame.

m is a guide for the upper end of the piston, bolted to the top plate, a, of the frame.

pp are wires leading from the spools on the frame through holes 7 in a guide plate or piece at the entrance of the metal bath.

The operation of the machine is as follows: The spools, filled with wire, are put onto the stand 01, as shown at 6. Water is allowed to enter the cylinder k through pipe s, which causes the piston a, wit-h its attachments, to rise to any desired point, when the inlet-valve is closed, which arrests the piston with its load.- 65 The spools, supported by the bearing of their axles on the standards d, are rolled along said standards until they drop into the bearings or boxes The exhaust-valve is then opened, whichallows the piston to descend to its place of starting. The ends of standards (2 and bearings or boxes 9, where they meet, are made at an angle of about forty-five degrees with the axis of the spool, so that the spool, in being rolled from the standard d to the box 9, will not drop into the space between the two, but will roll into one before it leaves the other. When the spools are in position in boxes 9, the wires are drawn from them through the guide-holes 1" into and through the metal, in the usual way, by a spooling or other suitable apparatus at the exit end of the bath.

WVe are aware that an upright frame or rack for holding spools of thread has been used in connection with a loom, and do not claim such frame.

Having thus fully described our invention, what we claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The combination of an upright rack or 90 frame, a lift operated by hydraulic or otherww power, andthe stand (I, adjustably supported on the piston or guide a, and provided with means, as shown, wherebythe spool maybe retained in place untilit is elevated to a position 9 5 where it can be rolled into the bearings or boxes LEWIS WILLIAMS. EDWARD M. BATES. Witnesses:

G. W. MAPLEDORAM, J AMES M. SWANK, Jr. 

